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CONFIDENTIAL
Background Press Briefing by Xu Jiatun
I have now been given a first hand account of this
press briefing, in strict confidence, by M.L. Ng, Head of
Chinese News and Current Affairs at RTHK. M.L. took
comprehensive notes and read them out in detail to me.
2.
Xu began by speaking about the Party Conference and
the personnel changes in China. He said that the extent of
the change from an old to a younger generation of leadership
was unusual. The succession would ensure that the policies
adopted by Deng Xiaoping would continue. A similar system would
also be adopted when a further succession needed to be arranged.
These developments were beneficial to Hong Kong because they meant
that China was set on a path of political stability and continuity
of policies. Hong Kong could, therefore, set its mind at ease
that the present policies would continue after Chairman Deng died.
3.
Xu also attacked the notion that there were two opposed schools of thought in China, one favouring a planned economy and the other favouring a more liberal system. China was still
resolutely a socialist country and was seeking to adopt selectively
elements from the capitalist world which could contribute to
China's development.
4.
The second part of Xu's briefing was devoted to Hong Kong,
and many of the points he made were in answer to questions. M.L's
account generally bore out the accounts given to APA and me by Emily Lau and Michael Chugani respectively. The main points
were as follows:
(a)
Xu initially said that
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Private notes are available after approval.